3 Spanish journalists kidnapped in Syria are freed
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Three Spanish journalists who went missing in Aleppo in July last year have been released.
The Spanish government said today that all three are safe in Turkey, and Spain is arranging for their return home.
The three journalists, Antonio Pampliega, Jose Manuel Lopez, and Angel Sastre, were last heard from on July 12, 2015 in Aleppo. They had entered Syria from Turkey two days earlier.
All three were experienced reporters who had worked in troubled areas previously.
Pampliega, a freelance war reporter, had covered wars in Iraq and Syria for AFP. Lopez, an award-winning photojournalist, had covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine. Sastre had covered conflict zones for Spanish press.
There was heavy fighting in Aleppo between forces from the Syrian regime, rebel groups, and Islamic State, at the time that the three men were last heard from.
Spanish media is reporting that their release was made possible with the assistance of Turkey and Qatar.
At the time they disappeared, Spanish Justice Minister Rafael Catala said that the government would use all available means to free the three journalists.
The Spanish government said today that all three are safe in Turkey, and Spain is arranging for their return home.
The three journalists, Antonio Pampliega, Jose Manuel Lopez, and Angel Sastre, were last heard from on July 12, 2015 in Aleppo. They had entered Syria from Turkey two days earlier.
All three were experienced reporters who had worked in troubled areas previously.
Pampliega, a freelance war reporter, had covered wars in Iraq and Syria for AFP. Lopez, an award-winning photojournalist, had covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine. Sastre had covered conflict zones for Spanish press.
There was heavy fighting in Aleppo between forces from the Syrian regime, rebel groups, and Islamic State, at the time that the three men were last heard from.
Spanish media is reporting that their release was made possible with the assistance of Turkey and Qatar.
At the time they disappeared, Spanish Justice Minister Rafael Catala said that the government would use all available means to free the three journalists.